After over two years of launching a bloody invasion of Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin has set conditions for a ceasefire. He is urging Ukrainian troops to pull out from areas Russia claims, such as Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia. He also demanded that Ukraine give up its NATO ambitions before negotiations can begin. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy strongly criticized these demands, comparing them to Hitler’s ultimatums. Zelenskyy reiterated that peace talks can only begin after Russian forces fully withdraw from all Ukrainian territory, including Crimea.
Putin made his announcement before a summit in Switzerland which was attended by leaders from 90 countries and where Russia was not invited. The summit aims to find ways to bring peace to Ukraine following international laws and the UN Charter. However, Western leaders and NATO officials criticized Putin’s conditions for a ceasefire, saying they were insincere and unfair.
At the same time, the G7 countries have decided to use the interest earned from frozen Russian assets to help Ukraine, providing about $3 billion per year. This funding aims to ease Ukraine’s economic challenges and enhance its defense against Russian actions.
Additionally, the US and Ukraine finalized a major 10-year security agreement during the G7 meeting, which will strengthen the military collaboration between the two countries.
Overall, tensions are uplifted as diplomatic efforts carry on in the middle of ongoing military conflict in Ukraine. Putin’s ceasefire terms and global reactions are influencing negotiations and geopolitical strategies for the future.
